Sometimes I run out of words.
Don’t get me wrong. My vocabulary rocks (and I’m humble, too). That’s what happens when you spend years 4-20 reading everything you can lay your hands on, including cereal boxes. (Which brings me to an issue I have with not making kids books “too smart” – where are they supposed to learn these words, if not from the books they read? But that’s another post …)
There are times when the words come unbidden, like a fresh flow of magma down a lava tube, and I let them spill onto the page.
Mostly, it’s more painful than that. But some days … some days the words disappear, as if they’ve been stolen by gremlins in my head, secreted away like the treasures they are.
Maybe it’s revenge for all the adverbs I’ve killed in the revision process.
Maybe I need a nap.
If you find my words, please send them to:
Crazy Lady in the Green House
321 U-shaped Street
Some State in the Middle, USA
Do your words disappear?
Yes, frequently! I know there is just the perfect word for what I want to say and still find myself reduced to hand gestures or saying "what is the word for…..?" Good luck! I hope you find your words again.
I hate when that happens. Usually it's in social situations in the late afternoon–probably a low blood sugar thing. π
@Kathy Stage Directions! They are the bane of my existence. π
@Laurel My 12yo last night said, "Mom, I wish I could freeze time, just so I could come up with snappy come-backs." LOL
Aw…I can totally relate. I think, though, that lots is happening in those barren moments. (At least that's what I tell myself.)
yes!
my words almost always get lost on the way from my brain to my mouth!
and sometimes from my brain to my fingers… that's why i want to write and NOT be a public speaker! π
seriously though- STRESS is like the boogey monster for my words. when STRESS rears it's ugly head, my words just boogey away- and they are excellent hiders! π
Let's just make up words of our own. That way, we don't have to think so hard! π
LOL I used to read the cereal boxes too, and ketchup labels, yes pretty much everything. I love words. Hope you find yours again soon!
@Sheri You are right – there's things that happen in the spaces. I just wish I knew what they were!
@aspiring I think you are right about the stress-factor. Although I never had that problem with public speaking (I do that a lot), but with the written words, it's a different story.
@Darby Vaporlicious! Obfusicate! (wait, that's a real word) π
@Karen LOL I think they're coming back. Maybe they just needed a holiday break too.
Your words may be flying overhead, on their way to you. Or else it's the birds flying south for the winter.
Yes, sometimes the words just aren't there. A good time to take a walk.
I agree with Beverly. A good time to take a walk, take a shower or eat something sugar-y. It's how I get out of a word void anyway.
Sadly, I have to say this happens to me more often than I care for. I can be particularly handicapped when it comes to words, and the right one will elude me more often than not. When that happens I put little stars around the word in the draft, and come back later.
lol, I feel this way a lot. Especially when I'm line editing and trying to clear out all my repetitive words and phrases. It's like: but…there's no other way to SAY that!!!!!!!!!!!! Very very frustrating. You are definitely not alone. π
My words like to take frequent vacations. It's frustrating to me when they do this, but ultimately I know it's for the best. When my words return from their brief hiatus, they're usually refreshed and full of vigor π
Hope your words come back from vacay soon!
Happens occasionally – I find watching funny movies helps me *grin*
BirthRight The Arrival, on Amazon 1.1.2011
http://www.damselinadirtydress.com
Yes, somedays are really slow and other days the writing is fast. I try and put myself in the mood somehow. Reading a great book or inspiring blogs. something. I'm sure they'll come back to you.
LOL. Yes, they do. I tell people God made me blonde for a reason! π
@Beverly I love the image of the words winging their way to me. Thank you!
@Claudie Walking is good. Also napping. I like my naps. π
@Shannon Yes, exactly! Descriptive powers, don't fail me now!
@Lisa I wish my words would schedule their vacay's in advance. Just sayin… π
@Nicole I DO need a movie break. Soon! p.s. congrats on your new book!!
@Laura Somehow just saying that they're gone has helped them come back. π Funny how that works.
@Shannon Hey now! Don't make it worse for us blondies! π
Oh, yeah. My words disappear most every morning after I edit what I've written the day before. But thank goodness for edits.
π
Yes, sometimes the words disappear, but not when I'm writing. It's when I try to remember the name of an old movie or someone I just met, things like that. That's old age creeping up, and it's scary!
Ann Best, Long Journey Home
@Kathi My edit brain is getting a serious workout this week! I think it's tired. π
@Ann LOL My mom complains about the same thing. I think it's just that you have too much life stored up there – not everything can fit! π
Yes! Mine leave me. I'm sure they're having a fling with another writer. he he
@Leisha Girl, you crack me up! Rascaly words! π
I still read the cereal boxes, every time I sit down at the table with one. Might have missed something the first ten times. Who knows, the words you're looking for may have escaped there π
@Sherrie Those cereal boxes can be entertaining! I wonder if there's money in cereal box prose …
My roommate studies computational linguistics (took several times of her explaining before I figured out that was just computers + languages). Anyhow, she sent me this interesting article about how people who speak regularly and often as part of their job have a higher frequency and rate of speaking mistakes than the rest of us. Examples included public figures, newscasters, TV show hosts, etc. We hypothesized that the brain needs breaks and compensates for overuse in a specific area by occasionally making mistakes. Maybe the same thing applies to writers?